Signal device for pneumatic tires



Jan. 15, 1929. v J. H. LOEB SIGNAL DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES- Filed March 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet v1 \w ix QR. J i g a r I &

WITNESSES INENTOR drELoeb,

ATTORNEYS 1.1% EM/b) jan. 15, 1929,

MEQQfi SG J. H. LOEB SIGNAL DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES Filed March 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES 1,699,366 PATENT OFFICE.

aosnrn n. LOEB, or" MORGAN CITY, Louisiana. i I

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES;

. the vehicle so that the driver of the vehicle will be apprised of the condition of pressure in the tire in time to make any necessary repairs and to inflate the tire sufliciently to prevent such injury to the tire or to the wheel rim as would be likely to result from continued use of the vehicle without increase of pressure in the tire.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a signal device of the character described which will be actuated on rotation of the vehicle wheel with which it is associated when the pressure within the tireon the wheel is low.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a vehicle wheel andfits mounting, showing the improved signal device applied.

Figure 2 is a longitudinalvertical section through the actuating mechanism of the signal device, 7

Figure 3 i'sa section along the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section through the rim portion of the wheel shown in Figure 1, showing the hub of the wheel,

the axle housing and'the signal device in elevation,

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a,

switch which is comprised in the signal de- V106 3 Figure 6 is a vertical section through th switch, the view being taken at right angles to Figure 5, v

Figure 7 is a view showing more or less diagrammatically a typical clrcuit which may be employed inthe use of the signal device.

The actuating mechanism of the signal device comprises a substantially. cylindrical casing 1 which is closed at one end by a fixed end 2 and at its other end by a removable cap 3 having a cylindrical portion 3 fitting slidably on an end portion of the cylinder 1 and being formed with right angular notches 4 in its edge portion with which an outwardly Application fled larch 24, 1925. Serial No. 17,981.

extending stud projection 5 on the cylinder 1 is engaged.

A pneumatic body 6 isdisposed in the cyl nder 1 between the fixed end 2 and the plunger 7 An expansion spring-8 is dispose in the cylinder 1 between the plunger 7 and the head of the cap 3. The cylinder 1 is secured on a vehicle wheel, as by means of a clip 9 having attaching portions 10 secured by screws 11 to a spoke 12 of the wheel so that theaxis of the cylinder 1' is parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel and the end portion of the cylinder having the spring 8 disposed therein is outermost.

The pneumatic body is shown as being oinedto a tube 13 which extends exteriorly of the casing 1 and is connected at its outer end by means of a pipe fitting 1 1 of any suitable known type of construction to the tubular stem 15 of a pneumatic tire 16 which is mounted on the rim of the wheel. The arrangement is such that air will pass through the stem 15, the fitting 14 and the tube 13'from the tire 16 to the space within the pneumatic body 6 so that the pressure within the pneumatic body 6 will vary directly with the pressure within the tire 16. This result can be accomplished in any suitable known m'anner,

of that is innermost when the casing 1 is secured to the wheel in the manner hereinbefore described. A longitudinal slot 18 is formed through the walls which are located between the tubular guide 17 and the interior of the casing 1. An actuating arm 19 of greater length than the tubular guide is bent at one end, as at 20, to extend through the slot 18 and is jpined integrally or otherwise to the plunger A switch comprises a box-like case 21 having attaching portions 22 secured by screws 23 or like fastening devices to a fixed part of the vehicle,v as for example to the housing 24 of the axle on which the Wheel is mounted, A switch arm 25 is pivotally attached at one H the wall of the casing'21 that is next to the axle housing 24:. The switch arm 25 extends through a slot 28 in the outer wall of the case 21 and is swingable about the axis of the pivot element '26 between the ends of the slot'28.

However, the switch arm 25 is yieldingly held against swinging from a position in which it extends through the slot 28 midway of the -.}length of the latter by a pair'of .retra'ctile ,springs 29 which extend oppositely from the switch arm 25 within the casing 21 and are at- V a tached at their adjacent ends to the switch arm and at their remote ends to opposite end portions of thecasing 21. A pair of stationary contacts 30 are secured to the casing 21 within the latter and adjacent to opposite ends of the slot 28 so that oneof the contacts 30 will be engaged by the arm 25 when the latter ,has been swung in the slot 30 adjacent to one end of the latter and the other contact 30 will be engaged by the contact 25 when the latter has beenswung in the slot 28 to a position adjacent to the other end of the slot. The

the contacts 30may be connected by'an electrical conductor 31 to one side of a battery 32. or other source of electric current supply and the other contact'30 will be connected by an electrical conductor 33 with the conductor 31. The second side of the battery 32 may be connected electrically'by aconductor 34 with one side of an electricallyyoperated signal 35 which preferably is an electric lamp located on the dashboard of the vehicle to which the device is applied. The other side of thesignal 35 is connected by a conductor 36 with the swinging contact or switch arm 25. It of course will be understood-that the stationary contacts 30 and the swinging contacts 25 may be insulated from the cas1ng2l in any suitable known manner, 7 no means therefor being shown. It also will be understood that the circuit for operating the signal35 will be closed when the contact 25 is in contact with either of-the stationary'contacts 30.

With the arrangement of switch case 21 on the axle housing 24 and cylinder 1 secured to the wheel as described in the foregoing, the axial line of the actuating member 19 will intersect the-switch arm 25 adjacent to the outer end of the latter. When the pressure in the tire is relatively high, the pneumatic body 6 will be inflated and expanded to an extent sufficient to hold the plunger 7 against movement in the cylinder 1 from the position shown in Figure 2 and the actuating arm 19 will be prevented from extending from the tubular guide 17 to an extent sufficient to cause contact of the actuating member 19 with the outer end portion-of the switch arm 25 when the wheel is rotated. However, when the pres =outer end with the outer end portion of the switch arm 25when the wheel is rotated and to cause the arm 25' to swing in the slot 28 to position to'contact with one or the other of the stationarycontacts 30, depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel about its axis of rotation. The actuating arm 19 then slides oil the outer end of the switch arm 25 since the axes of the actuating arm 19 and the switch arm 25 extend substantially at right angles to each other and the springs 29 will function to return the switch arm 25 to neutralposition as soon as such switch arm has been disengaged by the actuating arm. However, the circuit for operating the signal 35 will be closed while the switch arm 25,is in contact withone' of the stationary contacts 30 and the driver of the vehicle will be apprised of the plete rdtation of the wheel-and when the signal 35 is an electric lamp, the repeated closing .and opening of the circuit will cause the lamp to flash on and off during the rotation of the wheel so that the attention of thedriver of the vehicle is likely to be'attracted thereto.

- I claim I In a vehicle having an indicator and a switch arm carried on the axleof the vehicle, a pressure-switch actuating device comprismg a casing having a longitudinal slot ex tending the length of the casing, an expansible pressure member in an end portion there of, and a spring pressed plunger slidably mounted in the other end of the said casing. and having a switch actuating rod integrally formed on said plunger and adapted to'slide longitudinally in said slot for actuating said 7 switch arm.

JOS. H. LOEB. 

